Scientists reveal how common asymptomatic condition can develop in the myeloma -
Researchers from Birmingham University and hospitals across the West Midlands revealed how a condition asymptomatic town can develop myeloma blood cancer.
They found that changes in the bone marrow needed for the cancer to grow have already taken root in the previous condition, raising the possibility that early medical intervention could prevent this type of incurable cancer to take root.
research, which was funded by the blood cancer charity Bloodwise, is published today in the journal leukemia .
Myeloma affects the plasma cells, a type of white blood cell that originates in the bone marrow. Diagnosed in more than 4,000 people a year in the UK, less than half of patients survive more than five years after diagnosis. Symptoms often include debilitating and painful bone damage, anemia and nausea
Myeloma almost always progresses in a seemingly benign condition called "MGUS", which is especially common in the elderly -. As much as 7% of people aged over 85 have MGUS. Only about one in 100 patients with MGUS develop myeloma each year and there is currently no way to accurately predict which patients do and when.
Myeloma will spread to other organs, suggesting that the myeloma cells depend on the support of other cells in the bone marrow environment to survive. The researchers showed that Birmingham early in the development of MGUS, the cells that make up the connective tissue of the bone marrow change their behavior and become more favorable to the growth of cancer. They discovered that a key gene, called "PADI2" becomes particularly overactive in these connective tissue cells, which leads to overproduction of a signaling molecule known as interleukin-6 (IL-6).
conjunctiva release of IL -6 cells in the bone marrow, where it binds to receptors on the surface of malignant plasma cells, asking them to multiply rapidly and to resist cell death signals . It is already known that the presence of elevated levels of IL-6 in bone marrow of the patient significantly reduces the effectiveness of a key chemotherapy drug called bortezomib.
The researchers believe that drugs designed to target the gene PADI2 in MGUS and myeloma patients can significantly reduce the support signaling that myeloma cells are dependent, and can increase the effectiveness of current treatments.
significantly the PADI2 gene has also been linked to the development of other types of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis, Alzheimer's disease and autoimmune disease, and any drug developed could have wider applications beyond myeloma
Dr. Daniel Tennant, who led the research at the University of Birmingham, said :. "It is now clear that the bone marrow of patients with MGUS, traditionally considered a benign condition, is significantly different from that of healthy individuals. Environmental bone marrow in these patients seems to be able to support the growth of cancer even though the majority of patients will not progress to myeloma.. While this research is in the early stages, it offers the exciting possibility that early intervention could delay or even prevent the development of cancer "
Dr Alasdair Rankin, director of research at the blood cancer charity Bloodwise, said: "There is an urgent need for new treatments for myeloma, which, while largely incurable, can have a devastating impact on quality of life. with a population over more, MGUS and myeloma will only become more frequent. drugs designed to eliminate the myeloma support system used to develop could be an effective way to treat the disease, or even prevent completely. "
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